Step-ladder



(No Model.)

G. M; BAKER & W. ABBOTT.v

STEP LADDER.

Patented 001;. 2, 1883,

Jaw $722926.

a'rnw GEORGE M. BAKER AND IVILLIAM ABBOTT, OF ESPY, PENNSYLVANIA.

STEP LADER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 285,949, dated October 2, 1883. I Application filed May 7, 1883. (No model.)

To'ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, GEORGE M. BAKER and WVILLIAM Annorr, citizens of the United States, residing at Espy, in the county of Columbia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and. useful Improvements in Step-Ladders, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to I the accompanying drawings.

. This invention relates to step ladders of that class to which a shelf is connected by suitable devices in such manner that it will fold up or open out-automatically with the ladder when it is opened or closed, the peculiarities of which will be hereinafter more partieularly described.

In the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a vertical section of our invention; Fig. 2, a per spective of the shelf and its connections, and Fig. 3

a detached view of the top of the ladder.

In the figures, A represents the ladder-frame which carries the steps, and B the bracing to a shaft, H.

and supporting frame, hinged to the frameA, near its upper end, both frames being con structed in any of the well-known and usual ways and forms.

1) represents the top or platform of the ladder, one end of which may be extended beyond the frames, as shown, to afford additional room upon the same.

I represents the folding shelf, which is bolted or otherwise properly secured upon the upper side of a bar, F. The barF is firmly secured The shaft H is placed between the two side pieces of the frame B, and is provided with arms or trunnions e e, which have suitable bearings in said sides. Along slot or opening is formed in the inner end of the bar F, and at the rear end of said slot the bar is provided with a miterbevcl. The forked ends outer end, passes a rod, G. The ends of this 5 rod pass through and have their bearings in the side pieces of frame A.

M represents a tongue upon the inner end of bar E, which is inserted and pivoted, as seen at (l, in the slot in bar F. This tongue has initered shoulders and a initered end, the niitered end fitting against'the miteron bar F, at the inner end of the slot, and the niitered shoulders fitting against the mitered ends a a of bar F when the two bars are in line, as seen in Fig. 1. The mitered portions of the two bars fitting snugly together and securely held in position by the pivot d, a lock joint is formed which not only insures permanency to the shelf, but prevents the two parts of the ladder from closing together as long as there is weight upon the shelf or the two bars are in line. VVhenit is desired to close the ladder, the joint between the bars is buckled down, and the shelf, making a partial. rotation, folds in with the frames, its outer end lying beneath the top or platform of the ladder.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination of the ladder-frame A and supporting-frame B with the shelf I, shaft H, bars E and F, and the rod G, bar F being slotted and bar E provided with a tongue which is pivoted in the slot, the two bars being mitered substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

, GEORGE M. BAKER. IVILLIAM ABBOTT. IVitnesses:

GUY. J AOOBY, G. B. BROCKWAY. 

